rns on my chest and neck slowly began

to visit,

for my check-ups, to help t

e crying, or screaming, or threatening to ju

my own phone

from

special chicken soup. He

of a steaming

her

night. He held my han

sleeping in a chair by her

omeless patient might do. But Ethan sai

home because

mbness. A picture. Ilene, her face tilted up, pres

Her hand sliding

en, fierce constriction that mad

just deleted the m

d the paperwork myself. I took a cab

n the doorstep. Ethan was next to her,

c rush. "She called me thirty times, screaming that if I didn't come get her, she would lie down in the middle of

ide. "This is Ethan's house, which me

firm for once. "Ilene, no. This is my

sound. "If you don't let me in, I'll r

helpless

g by the gate. His eye

You'r

rmur. "She's just going to stay for a few days

lene, who was now glar

y voice was calm, de

ka

ocked. "You...

r smile touching my lips

e anymore. I was just a tempor

and marched into the h

he declared, wrinkling her nose.

"This couch is hideous, get rid of it

rtrait hanging in the living room. It was a

sharp finger, "is the ugliest o

oked uncerta

then gave a slight, defea

t. I had expecte

chest. I turned without a word

d make it easy for them. I wou

fill it with my things. Clothes, book

ragging the suitcase, the liv

ling face torn in two. My books were pulled from the shelves and thrown

lly built, so lovingly m

moment, just looki

e of it all, a smug, vic

ring around the room, "and you

. I was done

me, blocking my way. "Wher

e. She saw the dusty set of oil paints

you trying to show off how talented y

lence a wall she couldn't b

o move ar

rted with rage

and swung it at my head. I stumbled back, dodging the

d, off balanc

ds on my chest a

t the top of the

she screamed, her voic

. Then a sharp, violent impact as

a heap at the bottom, my head hitting

rm blood matting my ha

d, a series of v

ion bl

t was Ethan, running through the front d